RouXbarb is sometimes easy to forget about since it's tucked away in it's unassuming location on Northshore Drive next to Union Jacks, just north of Kingston Pike. Rest assured, The MG will not continue to make that mistake.
blurry photo by the incapable MG.
Chef Bruce Bogartz is a familiar face on the Knoxville restaurant scene, but his Bogartz restaurant in Homberg didn't exactly suit my college student budget back in the day, so this was my first experience with his food, and it was, well, amazing.
Bogartz focuses on using fresh, organic, often local seasonal food and you can taste the difference. His menu of Southern-style items reads like a creative writing assignment, but the unusual combinations seem to work. Between my dining companion and myself, we covered the redneck brioche appetizer (black-eyed pea hummus, pimento and pickles served with foccacia bread), pork tenderloin, king crab-stuffed filet (a special) and bread pudding dessert and would recommend it all.
Don't get too attached to anything on the menu, though. It changes seasonally, and he buys limited amounts of everything each day, so the best things -- like, say, the duck -- are bound to run out before the last guest has been seated for the night. I've seen mixed reviews about the atmosphere, but I loved it. I prefer restaurants that aren't overly pretentious, and RouXbarb has a warm, homey feel to it. The service was great too.
If you plan to go, know these things: reservations: don't leave home without them ... prices: you're going to spend about $25 on one entree, but I assure you it's worth it and you will get a hefty portion ... adult beverages: bring your own.
RouXbarb also does lunch, with a different menu and slightly more affordable prices if you don't quite want to commit to doing dinner. I don't know if you need reservations for lunch, but I would call ahead before going so as not to risk it.
RouXbarb
130 S. Northshore Dr.
212-0024
Lunch: Tues-Fri 11-2 p.m.
Dinner: Tues-Sat 5-10 p.m.
Website (there's a menu there, but it's last season's)
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
RouXbarb
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4 comments:
I've tried rouxbarb once on a lunch break with my big boss a year and a half ago, and it was mediocre food with mediocre service.
I'm glad they've seemingly changed though. I may try it again sometime.
You know, D, I've seen some people rave about it and others with the same impression you had. Don't know if we were just there on a good night or it's improved with time. I hope the latter.
I was expecting a lot more comments by now in which people wrote either how much they love or hate Bruce Bogartz.
Had lunch there once... excellent!!
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